Gay bishop Gene Robinson is to make a controversial visit to Canterbury next week, despite a ban on him attending the Lambeth Conference.

Bishop Robinson, barred from the main conference by the Archbishop of Canterbury, is coming to a fringe meeting of bishops when the conference-proper begins at Kent University next Monday.

His anticipated arrival is causing a major stir among organisers, who fear his presence in the city will deflect interest from the main conference of more than 600 archbishops and bishops from all over the world.

Bishop Robinson, the world’s first openly gay bishop, has informed the Archbishop, Dr Rowan Williams, he intends to participate in the Market Place Forum, an unofficial meeting scheduled to be held outside the main conference room at the university.

Dr Williams has given cautionary consent to Bishop Robinson’s visit to one of the week-long forum discussions, knowing that his presence will draw considerable media interest with the Anglican Church in turmoil over gay bishops and women bishops.

Bishop Robinson has been a controversial world figure since his ordination in New Hampshire five years ago split the Anglican Communion.

Christopher Robinson, spokesman for Canterbury Cathedral, said: “Bishop Gene Robinson is welcome to attend the forum next week. He hasn’t been invited to take part in the main conference discussions.”

Bishop Robinson was barracked when he delivered a sermon at St Mary’s Church, Putney, on Sunday. He was repeatedly called “heretic” and called upon to “repent” by a protestor. Other members of the congregation gave him a slow handclap.

The Bishop upset some members of the congregation when he again denounced the Archbishop for not declaring his stance on the issue of homosexuality.